SEQUÊNCIA DE COLONIZAÇÃO E AVALIAÇÃO DAS RELAÇÕES TRÓFICAS DE VESPAS ASSOCIADAS A FICUS OBTUSIFOLIA

Abstract

The genus Ficus exhibits a vast diversity of species, with more than 800 described, playing a crucial role in the biodiversity of tropical forests. This genus has a mutualistic and species-specific interaction with wasps of the Agaonidae family, which is fundamental for the pollination of Ficus. Pollinating and non-pollinating wasps, each with its distinct biology, use the syconium of fig trees as an oviposition site, and can cause various different impacts on the plant's reproductive components. The objective of the present project is to understand the natural history, trophic relationships, and diversity of fig wasps associated with Ficus obtusifolia, a fig species widely distributed in Southwest Goiás, but still little studied. Tree monitoring was carried out over a period of 9 months, through field observations and the installation of "Yellow Trap" traps to collect and identify wasp species present in various reproductive stages of the plant. Additionally, the collected figs were used to infer relationships between their morphological characteristics and the sequence of wasp colonization. A high asynchrony in development was observed in Ficus obtusifolia. Due to this, some wasps were found at stages different from what was expected. Wasps also showed a preference for figs with thicker walls. The study contributes to the elucidation of the complex relationships that Ficus has with its associated wasps, providing relevant information on the ecology of these organisms.